The Spark competition is designed to provide early stage companies in Cape Breton and the Mulgrave region with seed capital to help them grow. The funds, which range from $20,000 to $45,000 per company depending on its needs and potential, will be used to help companies complete their prototypes or prepare to take their products and services to the market. The seven companies will also receive mentoring from expert business people through Cape Breton’s MentorConnect program.

Winning companies have products and services that include mobile applications, web-based software, consumer goods, and others.

Amira Zubairi is a staff writer and content creator at BetaKit with a strong interest in Canadian startup, business, and legal tech news. In her free time, Amira indulges in baking desserts, working out, and watching legal shows.